Log loading tongs



Dec. 2, 1952 c. H. NOVOTNEY 2,620,219

7 LOG LOADING TONGS Filed Nov. 21, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Carl H. Novotney INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a log loading device and more specifically pertains to a log grapple.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a log grapple having a self-tripping device wherein the said grapple may engage and lift a log from one place to another, automatically releasing the log at the final place of disposition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a log grapple which is gravity operated.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a log grapple which will operate to release a log engaged therein by releasing the tension on the hoisting mechanism.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a log grapple which after releasing a log previously engaged therein, will return to a normal position ready for its next operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a log grapple wherein is obviated the need for manually disengaging the tongs or hooks of said grapple from a 105.

Other objects of this invention are to be found in a log grapple which greatly expedites the loading of logs, eliminates many dangers often encountered while working with a log-loading device, and which is eflicient in operation, simple in construction and inexpensive to obtain.

These, together with various other ancillary objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front vertical view of the log grapple engaging a log therebetween;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view illustrating in detail the positions of the various elements of the present invention when the hook is engaging a log;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view taken along the plane of the section *line 3-3 of Figure and illustrating the various positions of the elements of this device when the hook is disengaged from the log and further showing the log engaging position of the hook in broken lines;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view similar to the views of Figures 2 and 3 and further illustrating another sequential position of the elements;

Figure 5 is a vertical side sectional view taken along the plane of the section line 55 of Fi ure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical side sectional fragmentary view taken along the plane of the section line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a vertical side sectional fragmentary view taken along the plane of the section line 'l! of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical side fragmentary view showing parts in section and taken along the plane of the section line 88 of Figure 4; and

Fig-ure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the construction of the hook employed in the present invention.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, it will be noted that numeral l0 denotes generally a log grappling device including a pair of tongs l2 and I4. As seen in Figure 1 each of these tongs is substantially straight along its upper portion and bends inwardly toward the lower end thereof. The tongs i2 and M are pivotally connected to each other adjacent their upper ends, as at It and are provided at each of their upper ends with eyelets l8 and 20, wherein may be emplaced any convenient hoisting device, not shown. Since the construction of each of the tongs is identical, the following description will be limited to the tong l4 for an explanation of the inner mechanism of the device and to the tong l2 for an explanation of the outer or visible mechanism, both of these views easily seen in Figure 1.

Accordingly, attention is directed to Figure 2 wherein it will be seen that the tong I4 is equipped at the lower end thereof with a sleeve 22. The sleeve 22 consists of an upper shank 24 complementary with the surface of the tong i l over which it slides. A pair of registering slots 26 are disposed in the front and back surfaces of the shank 24 and are of the same arcuation as the tong and sleeve. The tong I4 has a pin 28 transversely disposed and suitably positioned therein for sliding engagement in the slots 26.

Referring now to the lower portion of the sleeve 22, it will be noted that a recess 30 has been provided in one of the sides thereof and in the other side, there will be seen a lipped portion 32, both of which are for a purpose subsequently to be described. The front and rear portions of the sleeve 22 at the lower end thereof are formed into spaced parallel ears 34 having bearings wherein are journaled the ends of a pivot pin 36. From the foregoing it will be noted that there is an opening 38 between the lip 32 and the upper rim 4!] of the recess 3%] and 3 between the ears 34, at the bottom of the sleeve 22.

Freely supported for rotation on the pivot pin 36 is a hook 42 having a generally irregular contour which thereby enables the principles of this invention to be carried out. Accordingly, by also referring to Figure 9, it will be seen that the hook 42 is composed of a substantially flat cylindrical head portion 44, the arcuate lower surface 46 of the same merging into a fiat forward surface 48. The upper arcuate surface 50 of the body 44 defines a substantially shorter arc than the lower surface 46 and curves downwardly eventually merging into a flat extending surface which lies in a plane substantially secant to the arcuate surface 50. This upper flat surface 52 together with the surface 48 tapers toward the pointed end 54 of the hook 42. A consideration of the entire hook member 42 will reveal that the pivoting axis through the pin 36 has been eccentrically located and is therefore not concentric with the geometrical or gravitational center. For reasons to be subsequently explained, the rotational center has been so positioned to enable the entire hook 42 to assume a position of static balance with the surfaces 48 and 52 inclined downwardly, as seen in Figure 3.

A further study of the body 44 of the hook 42 will reveal that the rear portion of the same has been constructed with a variety of surfaces and protuberances. Accordingly, the upper armate surface 50 curves inwardly towards its upper end to form thereby an abutment 56. The lower or corner portion of the abutment merges into a rear arcuate surface 58 which extends over a substantial part of the rear of the body 44 curvingupwardly at its lower end to form a substantially semi-cylindrical slot 60. From the edge of the slot 60 the outer surface of the body 44 drops off sharply defining thereby a downwardly slanting fiat surface 62 but having at either side thereof flange portions 64 whose outer surfaces merge into the lower arcuate surface 46 and upper surfaces 66 to form a limiting abutment surface against downward motion of the hook 42, subsequently to be more fully described.

From what has thus far been described, the invention provides a hook member 42 which is pivotal on a hollow sleeve portion 22 having slotted sides for limited sliding movement of a pin 28 which is freely secured to a tong I4. Means must now be provided to control both the free pivoting movement of the hook 42 and the freely sliding movement between the sleeve 22 and the tong With a view towards the provision of these means, it will be noted that at the lower end of the sleeve 22 there is journaled on the pin 68 a latch arm I0. The latch I is freely rotatable on the pin 68 and rests normally (Figs. 3 and 4) in the recess of the sleeve 22. At the forward end thereof, the latch I0 is reduced and thus narrowed to a slight degree terminating in a front fiat surface I2 capable of restin in flush engagement with the downwardly inclined surface 62 of the hook 42. Towards the rear end of the latch I0 and around the pivoting portion thereof a surface of the lever rises in an irregular manner, having a rear surface curved in a complementary shape to conform to the inner surface of the rim of the recess 30 and having an outer substantially semi-cylindrical cam surface I4.

The bottom end of the tong I4 cuts off along an inclined surface I6 having at one end thereof a pair of depending ears or flanges I8 which journal therebetween a pivot pin 80. Supported for pivotal movement on the pin is a T-shaped lever 82 having a fiat upper surface capable of flush engagement with the surface I6 of the tong I4 and having a head 84 at the front thereof, for a purpose subsequently to be described. A spring 86 of suitable strength for the purposes of the invention is rigidly secured in a recess or blind hole 88 within the tong I4 below the surface I6. The other end of the spring 86 is fixedly embedded in a blind hole 90 beneath the rear fiat surface of the T-lever 82. The construction of the spring 86 and its adaptation to the tong I4 and the lever 82 is such as to statically space the lever 82 a small amount from the flat surface I6- of the tong l4. The front surface of the lever 82? has a medially positioned transverse ridge 92' which is provided to act as a cam surface andv further to provide a greater body portion thereby allowing structural reinforcement for the pressure exerted by the spring 06 against the lever 82.

By referring to the tong I2, it will be noted that it is provided with elements identical to those heretofore described and therefore includes a sleeve 94, registering slots 96, a sliding pin 98, and a hook member I00. Further, the lower end of the sleeve 94 is equipped with a bracket I02 pivotally supportin thereby a spring I04 which is stretched upwardly hookedly engaging by its upper end a fastener I06. The fastener I06 is embedded in the pin 28 and downwardly depends therefrom. As clearly shown in Figure 5 a similar spring mechanism I04 is provided on the back portion of the sleeve 22 and it should be understood that the sleeve 94 is similarly constructed. By means of this spring tensioning device the sleeve, for example 94, is urged upwardly on the tong I2 and therefore yieldingly resists movement outwardly of this position. When the sleeve is pulled or forced downwardly the pin, for example 28, as seen in Figure 5, moves upwardly in the slots 26 abutting at its upper position of travel the limiting block I08. Each of the springs I04 is provided with a protective cylindrical hollow sheath II 0 substantially covering the springs throughout their entire lengths.

The operation of the device is as follows. When not in use the hook members 42 and I00 are held in an upwardly inclined position, as seen in Figure 1, by virtue of the fact that the latches "I0 abut against the surfaces 62 of the hook members. Since the natural tendency of the hooks 42 and I06 is to rotate downwardly, this upwardly inclined position will be maintained. Furthermore, to prevent the latch I0 from pivoting backwardly into the recess 30, the static position of the lever 82 is such as to position its cam surface 92 in abutment against the surface I4 of the latch I0 whereby such rearward pivotal movement will be prevented. When the hooks 42 and I00 are set or impaled in a log, as II2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and some suitable hoisting device (not shown) lifts the tongs by means of the eyelets I8 and 20, it will be evident that the tongs will pivot towards each other thereby urging the hooks into a more firm connection with the log H2. The forces acting on the hooks 42 and I00, are indicated by arrows in Figure 2. The forces acting in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot pin 36 resulting from the weight of the log will be balanced by opposing counterclockwise reaction as the result of the latch "I0 pressing against the downwardly inclined surface 62 of the hook 42.

From this, it is evident that the log H2 may be lifted from one place to another.

However, when lowering the log to its final place of disposition, it becomes necessary to eX- tract the hooks 52 and Hill from the log. The mechanisms hereinbefore described are for the purpose of extracting the hooks from the logs in a substantially automatic manner. Accordingly, the hoisting device lowers the tongs l2 and Hi until the log H2 is resting upon its final supporting place; then, the hoist or cable, if such be the case, is allowed to slacken. Since the hook 42 is freely journaled upon the pin 35, and since the pointed portion 5d of the hook L2 is embedded in the log H2, there will be a tendency for the hook 42 to pivot clockwise to'a slight extent thereby enabling the latch it to slip loose of its engagement with the surface 62. Since the latch i9 is also freely pivotal around the pin 63, it will fall backwardly by gravity into the recessed portion 39 and in the event there is a tendency for the latch to stick, the downward movement of the lever 82 and its cam surface 92 will bear against the rear surface of the latch cam M, thereby forcing it into the recess. Now, if the hoisting mechanism is once again lifted the hook 412 will pivot in a counterclockwise direction to the extent shown in Figure 3 since, in the absence of the latch iii, there will be nothing to resist the weight of the log as the hook i2 is drawn upwardly.

Throughout the foregoing operations the sleeves 22 and 34 have been at their outward point of travel, whereby the pin, for example 28, is resting against the provided surface in the limiting block Hi8. This condition is best seen in Figure 2 where it will be noted that the cam surface 92 of the lever 82 does not nor will not interfere with the surface M of the latch ill. However, when the hoist slackens and the latch is released from engagement with the hook 52 causing, the hook to pivot counterclockwise, as seen in Figure 3, the surface (it of the hook d2 will press upwardly against the beaded margin 8t urging the lever 82 upwardly against the pressure of the spring 235. This, therefore, acts as a stop or limit to the counterclockwise motion of the hook 52 and further, places the hook 42 in position for the resetting operation.

Accordingly, the hook 42, and likewise the hook Hill, is reset in the following manner. Considering Figure 3, when all of the load is released from the hook 62 and the hoist is once again lifting an unloaded pair of tongs upwardly, the springs Hid will urge the sleeve 22 upwardly on the tong I i. These movements will cause the lever 82 to move downwardly from the pressure of the spring 35 which will produce two effects. First, the head as will urge, by means of the surfaces 66, the hook 32 in a clockwise manner. Secondly, when the lever 82 has moved downwardly for a certain distance, the cam surface 92 will encounter the surface is of the latch ii and, as seen in Figure 4, the latch Hi will be moved in an upward direction. It is obvious that the construction of the various parts of this mechanism must be precisely and accurately determined so as to enable a synchronism of motion. As an additional aid in both turning the hook i2 and in lifting the latch 10, the spring 86 is provided to force the lever 82 downwardly to a greater extent than would be caused by its ordinary relative motion with the tong I l. Therefore, when the spring I94 has moved the sleeve 22 to its uppermost position on tong Hi the location of the respective elements will be such as seen in Figure 1, wherein the hook 42 is inclined upwardly, held in position by means of the latch ill which is further prevented from moving by the engagement of the cam surface 92 with the surface M. The entire device is now in its normal static condition and is ready for reuse to pick up another log.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily apparent and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. It will be noted that there has been provided a log grapple which automatically resets itself thereby obviating previously tedious and dangerous operations. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A log grapple comprising a pair of pivotally joined arcuately shaped tongs, each of said tongs having sleeve portions slidable thereon, a hook pivotally connected to said sleeve, means yieldably urging said sleeve inwardly of said tong, and means operable to swing said hook into predetermined positions, means for limiting the path of arcuation of said hook, said last means including an abutment on said hook and a lip on said sleeve engaging said abutment, a slot in said sleeve, and a pin transversely disposed in said tong and slidable within said slot.

2. A log grapple comprising a tongs embodying a pair of crossed pivotally joined levers, each of said levers having a sleeve slidable thereon, a grappling hook pivotally mounted on said sleeve, spring mean yieldably urging said sleeve upwardly on said lever, means operable to swing said hook into predetermined positions, said last mentioned means including a latch pivotally confined in said sleeve, a recess in said hook releasably receiving One end of said latch, and a spring pressed lever interposed between said lever and hook and pivotally mounted on said lever and confined within said sleeve and being urged downwardly against said latch and hook.

3. A log grapple comprising a tongs embodying a pair of crossed pivotally connected complemental levers, a sleeve telescopically mounted on the work-engaging end of each lever, a pin fixed in said lever and extending through oppositely disposed elongated slot provided therefor in coacting portions of said sleeve, coil springs connected at corresponding ends to cooperating end portions of said pin, said springs paralleling adjacent sides of said sleeve and being fastened at their outer ends to cooperating portions of said sleeve, a grappling hook pivotally mounted on said sleeve, said sleeve having a lip and said hook having an abutment engageable with said lip for limiting the degree of swing of the hook in one direction relative to the sleeve, and means interposed between the hook and adjacent end of said lever for either releasing the hook or, alternatively, retaining the hook in a load-engaging and lifting position.

l. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein said means embodies a latch pivoted at one end within the confines of said sleeve and having its opposite free end releasably engageable with a marginal edge portion of said hook.

5. The structure specified in claim 4, and a trip lever pivotally connected at one end to an end portion of the first-named lever, and a spring interposed between said trip lever and coacting end portion of said first-named lever.

6. A log grapple comprising a tongs embodying a pair of crossed pivotally connected levers, each of said levers having a beveled free end portion, a. sleeve telescopically and slidably mounted on the beveled free end portion of each lever, spring means associable with the lever and sleeve respectively and serving to slide the sleeve upwardly on said lever, said sleeve being provided with a pair of spaced parallel ears, a grappling hook having an end portion pivotally mounted between 15 1,253,111

said ears, said end portion being provided with recess means, a latch pivotally mounted at one end in said sleeve and having its opposite end free and engageable with said recess means, the

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date West Jan. 8, 1918 1,772,784 Shields Aug. 12, 1930 1,782,326 Tornquist Nov. 18, 1930 2,533,795 Hanson Dec. 12, 1950 

